Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 174

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Notirr of Japan in the Hái-kook Tú Chi

MARCHI

ment of Wanchau, and made a second descent upon Kwangtung. In the 10th year (1587), they returned upon Chehkiáng; but the pro- vincial government, warned by the disasters of the period Kiátsing (already detailed), had strengthened the sea defenses no little, so that wherever the pirates came they were constantly worsted. Kwángtung meanwhile was invaded by some whom the Tánkiá* pirate, Liáng Pun- háu, had leagued with and brought in. The disorder wrought by them increased to such a pitch that the governor-general Chin Sui as- sembled a force, attacked them, sank upwards of a hundred of their vessels, and beheaded 1600, Liáng Punháu being amongst the nun- ber. The Emperor ordained a thanksgiving, himself sacrificing at the high altars and in the Imperial temples;† he proclaimed a victory throughout the empire, and received the congratulations of his Court.

The government of Japan had been from ancient days monarchical ; the minister next in importance and dignity to the sovereign being styled the kwan-pih. At the time of which we are speaking, this post was filled by Kü Sin-cháng of Shán-chi chau. When hunting, he

♬ came upon a man who was sleeping under a tree, and who started up in alarm to flee, but being seized and interrogatea, declared his name to be Ping Siú-kih, the slave of a native of Shamo-chau. Robust, active, and ready of speech, his appearance so pleased Kü Siu-cháng that he put him in charge of his horses. fle was called the Muh-hiù (i. e. Hypodendrius, Under the Tree) man; in course of time he was employed in the public service, and by the aid of his counsels Kü Sin- ching possessed himself of upwards of twenty departments. He was subsequently made governor, or protector, of Sheh-tsin, when the Tsán-mau (counselor) Ah-ki-chí gave offense to Kü Sin-cháng, who

* The Tán-hú, boating race, considered a distinct people, in the 4th century (the time of the Tsin dynasties), had upwards of 501,000 boats. In 1370, these were placed under the charge of an inspector, entitled the Ho-po-so, and taxed in fish. They are still one of four classes who are not allowed to enter them- selves as candidates for degrees, and the people consider intermarriage with them a mésalliance. About 1730, they were allowed to live on shore and cultivate land.

↑ Altars

kiéru mi iu. Kiáu is properly waste land outside a city, &c.' Morrison's Syllabic Dict. 5587. At Peking without the South Gate, is an altar to Heaven in a circular brick inclosure of considerable extent: this is the Nan kiáu. Beyond the North gate is another similarly inclosed by a square wall to Earth; this is the Peli-kiàu. At the latter the Emperor sacrifices at the summer solstice; at the southern, at the winter solstice, and also on extraordinary occa- Mions The temples are chapels dedicated to his ancestors within the precincts gacred to his Majesty : they are nine in number.